Our shift from plastic to paper-based cling film for produce bundles

Fresh produce packaging has a direct connection to how people shop, transport, store, and enjoy food. It must protect delicate products while helping retailers present bundles clearly and efficiently. At the same time, packaging materials need to reflect growing expectations for responsible resource use and practical end-of-life solutions.

Our shift from plastic to paper-based cling film for produce bundles is part of this broader effort. The change focuses on replacing selected conventional plastic wrapping applications with a paper-based alternative designed for specific produce formats. It also reflects a wider principle: packaging progress should support food protection, operational performance, and environmental responsibility together.

Fresh Del Monte’s sustainability work extends across agriculture, communities, sourcing, and environmental protection. The company’s sustainability approach provides the wider context for evaluating packaging improvements alongside responsible farming and supply-chain practices.

Why packaging needs a new direction

Plastic has played an important role in modern produce distribution. It can be lightweight, flexible, transparent, and effective at reducing moisture loss or physical damage. Those characteristics can help protect food and prevent waste, especially when produce travels through multiple stages before reaching a consumer.

However, single-use packaging can create environmental concerns when it depends heavily on fossil-based materials or is difficult to recover after use. Thin films are often challenging to collect, sort, and recycle through conventional systems. A packaging change therefore needs to consider the complete material journey, from sourcing and manufacturing to disposal or recovery.

Paper-based wrapping offers an opportunity to reduce reliance on traditional plastic film in selected bundle applications. It is not a universal replacement for every packaging format, and its suitability depends on product characteristics, climate, logistics, and local waste infrastructure. A responsible transition begins with matching the right material to the right use.

How paper-based cling film works

Paper-based cling film combines the familiar function of a securing outer wrap with a different material foundation. In a produce bundle, the film helps keep individual items together, supports handling, and can provide a clean surface for product information or branding. The paper component introduces a more renewable, fiber-based element into an application traditionally associated with plastic.

Material design must account for strength, flexibility, adhesion, moisture exposure, and resistance to tearing. Produce can be handled repeatedly between packing facilities, distribution centers, stores, and homes. If a wrap fails too easily, it may create product loss or require additional packaging, reducing the value of the material switch.

For this reason, development and testing are central to the initiative. Teams need to examine how the wrap performs on different bundle shapes, under varying temperatures, and during transport. They also need to assess whether printing, labeling, and closure methods remain effective without compromising the package’s paper-based attributes.

The phrase “paper-based” should also be understood carefully. A package may contain more than one material or use coatings and adhesives to meet functional requirements. Clear labeling and accurate disposal guidance help consumers and business customers understand what the package is made of and how it should be handled in their area.

Comparing material choices

The most useful comparison is not simply between plastic and paper. It is between packaging systems that protect food, use resources wisely, function reliably, and have a realistic pathway after use. A lighter package is not automatically better if it causes damage, while a recyclable package delivers limited benefit if collection systems cannot process it.

This assessment also recognizes that packaging is only one part of the food system. A package that protects produce and prevents avoidable spoilage can support sustainability by preserving the water, land, energy, labor, and transportation invested in growing and moving that food. The goal is to improve the overall balance rather than focus on a single material attribute.

Designing for real-world performance

A successful paper-based packaging transition begins with the product. Different fruits and vegetables respond differently to humidity, pressure, temperature changes, and handling. Bundle size, shape, and weight can affect how much tension the wrap must withstand. Packaging specifications therefore need to be tested across the formats where the material will actually be used.

Operational compatibility is equally important. Packing teams need materials that run efficiently on existing lines or can be integrated without excessive changes. Retailers need bundles that remain stable on shelves and during replenishment. Consumers need packaging that is easy to open and does not obscure basic information about the produce.

The transition also depends on supplier collaboration. Fiber quality, responsible sourcing documentation, coating composition, printing systems, and manufacturing consistency all influence the final result. Working with partners to verify specifications can help prevent unintended trade-offs and support credible environmental communication.

Performance data should continue after launch. Monitoring damaged bundles, rejected units, customer feedback, material consumption, and disposal questions can reveal where the design works well and where it needs refinement. This evidence-based approach makes packaging innovation measurable rather than symbolic.

Connecting packaging with broader stewardship

The move toward paper-based produce wrapping sits within a wider sustainability strategy that includes resource conservation, healthy food choices, community development, and ethical business conduct. Packaging decisions are strongest when they are connected to these priorities instead of treated as isolated marketing exercises.

Environmental stewardship also requires attention to landscapes beyond the packing line. Fresh Del Monte’s work in agricultural regions includes habitat protection and ecosystem restoration. Its reporting on mangrove restoration illustrates how healthy natural systems support biodiversity, water quality, climate resilience, and local communities.

These efforts share a common principle: long-term value depends on responsible management of materials and ecosystems. Reducing plastic use in selected packaging applications cannot replace the need to protect land, monitor environmental impacts, or support communities. It is one practical action within a broader network of commitments.

Measuring progress and building trust

Credible packaging progress should be supported by transparent measures. Useful indicators may include the amount of conventional plastic avoided, the share of bundles using paper-based wrap, packaging weight, product damage rates, and the availability of appropriate recovery pathways. Tracking these measures together helps identify whether a material change is delivering meaningful results.

Claims should remain specific and carefully qualified. Paper-based does not automatically mean recyclable in every location, and a lower-plastic design still has manufacturing and transport impacts. Providing clear information helps customers, retailers, and employees make informed decisions while avoiding broad claims that cannot be supported.

Practical priorities for advancing the initiative include:

• Test paper-based wrap across produce types, bundle sizes, and distribution conditions
• Verify fiber sourcing, coatings, adhesives, and supplier environmental documentation
• Measure food protection and damage rates alongside material reductions
• Provide disposal guidance that reflects local recycling and composting systems
• Use customer and retailer feedback to improve usability and clarity

A shift in packaging becomes more meaningful when it is supported by continuous learning. Each trial can provide insight into material performance, consumer behavior, operational efficiency, and the conditions needed for wider adoption. Progress may happen in stages, with different solutions used for different produce categories.

Fresh Del Monte is continuing to connect packaging innovation with the company’s wider responsibility to protect food, resources, communities, and the natural environment. Learn more about this work through the company’s sustainability reporting and follow the development of packaging solutions that make produce bundles more practical and responsible from farm to table.